CPC emerge champions as State Equestrian C'ship concludes
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 07 2024:
The 17th Ningthoukhongjam Tombi State Equestrian Championships 2024, organised by the Manipur Equestrian Association, concluded on Wednesday at the Manipuri Pony Breeding Farm, Lamphelpat.
The competition, which began on January 28, was participated by 14 equestrian clubs of the state.
The participants included by 19 boys, 19 women and 99 senior riders.
Chingkheihunba Polo Club emerged as the overall team champions while Imphal Riding Club were the runners-up.
A significant addition in the State Equestrian Championships this year was the Arambai target throw and Arambai distance throw.
It may be recalled that Arambai was introduced in the National Games held in Imphal in 1999 .
The championships included junior boys', women's and senior men's show jumping.
The tent pegging lance individual was held for junior boys, women's and senior men's, while the tent pegging sword individual was held for senior men's.For the team event, tent pegging lance for both men's and women's was also held.
The closing ceremony was attended by Dr Th Charanjeet Singh, director IPR, and H Deleep Singh, president Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association as chief guest and president respectively.
Golap Boruah, chairman North East Indigenous People s Forum, Dr S Joykumar, former President Manipur Equestrian Association, and N Radhapyari, associate Professor (retd) were also present as guests of honour.
Golap Boruah stated that Manipur's indigenous sports and competitive spirit, which have existed for thousands of years, make the state a strong leader in the North Eastern Region.
"Manipur has retained all the traditional values.
We must have the will to conserve our environment, and indigenous people's traditional and cultural values cannot be compromised in the name of development", Golap Boruah said.
Dr Th Charanjeet Singh recalled the ancestral sports involving Manipuri ponies as well as the animal's value for other purposes.
He praised the young riders' performances, especially their enthusiasm for keeping a tradition alive in these difficult times.
"The initiatives taken up the Manipur Equestrian Association to conduct the state level equestrian championships is laudable," Dr Charanjeet said.
In his presidential address, H Deleep Singh mentioned that rearing the Manipuri ponies is a serious challenge today.
The efforts of the Manipur Equestrian Association, Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association, and the Manipuri Pony Society in staging Polo tournaments, equestrian championships, and taking responsibility for the affairs of the ponies will go a long way, he said.
Dr Th Debendra Kumar Singh, organising secretary of the championships, expressed gratitude to all the Riders and the Equestrian Associations of the state who took part in the competition despite the tough circumstances.
He mentioned that equestrian events and polo tournaments can only be organised during dry seasons.
While congratulating the winners, he thanked all the members of the organising committee for making the event a grand success.